Matt Taven says Adam Cole has his number.
Taven and Cole previously teamed up together as members of The Kingdom in Ring of Honor. The group also included Michael Bennett and Maria Kanellis. After Bennett and Kanellis left ROH, the group broke up until Taven reformed it with Vinny Marseglia and T.K. O'Ryan. Taven and Bennett later reformed the group, and they remain a featured part of the ROH roster.
Speaking on Stick to Wrestling, Taven was asked whether there has been any consideration of expanding The Kingdom. He noted that any time the possibility comes up, it's important to remember that the group has always been built on a real bond. Taven stated that any potentia addition to the group would have to have great chemistry with the other members.
"There always have been talks about it, but the problem was, whether it was Cole, myself and Bennett, or Vincent, TK and myself, it was such a real thing. Myself and Cole have been friends since we basically started wrestling, and the four of us with Maria were traveling together before The Kingdom even became a thing. So we were in cars together, and when the idea was approached to us, it was like a no-brainer. It was like, of course. Then when I came back from knee surgery with the next version of The Kingdom, myself and Vincent have known each other since I started wrestling. We trained together. TK O’Ryan came from the same school, Spike Dudley’s Lockup Academy. So we were always on the road together as well. It’s just another natural fit. So when it comes up, when people ask or when ideas get pitched, it’s one of those things where it’s like, we’re not against it, but it has to be something so natural that it’s undeniable. There’s only a few people that I could kind or, obviously people know myself and Dalton travel all the time together, but that would be so weird. He’s got his own thing and stuff like that. So it’s not out of the question, but it would have to be something that’s so natural and not forced, you know what I mean? Because it comes across on the screen," Taven said.
When asked about potentially reuniting with Adam Cole in AEW as part of his current storyline with MJF and Roderick Strong, Taven emphasized that he would never say never. Taven made it clear that Strong has been a great mentor to him, and he keeps in touch with Cole, so he's there if his fellow former ROH World Champion needs him.
“I would say never say never. Even more than that, myself and Roderick Strong, I can’t give enough credit to Roddy. Just like Jay Briscoe, [he] helped me so, so much when I first started at Ring of Honor. He was, still to this day, such a mentor to me and someone that I could go to and will always give me an honest opinion and will help me out. He’s very giving with his time and his knowledge. So never say never, and honestly, Cole knows my number. We talk constantly. If he ever needs help or he needs someone in Boston this week, I’m only a phone call away, and I know Mike and Maria are as well. Wrestling works in mysterious ways. Who knows what might happen? It’s one of those things where, unlike the Bullet Club, once you’re a member of the Kingdom, it’s a lifelong bond that never goes away," Taven said.
Cole and MJF will compete in the finals of the Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament on the July 19 episode of AEW Dynamite. Check out the card here. Fightful will have coverage of the show as it airs.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett) will challenge for the ROH World Tag Team Championship at ROH Death Before Dishonor. More information is available here.
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